I am a wanderer. I would say that I am a seeker, but sometimes I have no idea what I might be seeking, so I will stick with wanderer. This blog is more a public journal than anything. I don't claim to have life figured out. I simply stumble from mystery to mystery, and share my reflections along the way. Sometimes I feel burdened, and trudge. Sometimes? Well sometimes grace breaks through, and its time to dance.

Welcome

Primitive religion is not believed, it is danced!

Arthur Darby Nock

Earth's crammed with heaven,And every common bush afire with God;And only he who sees takes off his shoes;The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Browning

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Be good

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be.
Be one.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

_________________________________________

Finn is a “good dog”

he learned early on not to get on the furniture

Or chase the deer too far

He learned to sit when a car comes by

And to bring “dad” the ball

I’ve notice that not all dogs are

Quite so well behaved

Nor quite so “happy”

Are they “bad dogs”?

I suspect that with dogs, like horses

The problem is not the dog (or the horse)

But the one who owns them

And works with them….

How they behave is a reflection of how they have been
treated

Of love, and kindness,

Clarity

Consistency,

Or NOT

Perhaps the true is of people too

I remember the line in “Hook”

When the little daughter of Peter Pan

says of the mean, gross, old Captain

“He’s just a mean old man without a mommy”

People are, to a great degree, what others make them

Perhaps the way we influence people become good people

Or at least better people

Is to be good people, better people, ourselves

to be love, an kindness, an compassion and generosity

to be humble, and willing to serve

there is no better evidence that the opposite is also true

that mean, cruel, arrogant, greedy souls

bring forth the same in those around them

that those who not sit in power in our country

so perhaps our energy

dear ones

needs not go, not into changing “them”

but into changing ourselves

into being the kind of people who bring “good” into the
world

as always our vulnerability and goodness maybe seen

as weakness

but there is no one so weak as one who must diminish others
to feel strong

Further Reading

Creative Use of Diversity by Stephen Kliewer. A look at diversity in the church. Thoughts about the kinds of diversity in local congregations and its impact. Also thoughts about how to deal with diversity to maximize the positives and minimize the negatives . Published by the Alban Institute 1985

Healthcare and Spirituality by Stephen Kliewer and John Saultz. A look at spirituality and its place in the healing process. Originally designed as a primer for healthcare providers, it has also proved useful to pastors and laypeople. Published by Radcliffe Medical Press 2006.

Both can be found on Amazon.com

Another version of this blog, with photography from the author can be found on FaceBook

Look for "Dancing Faith"

Another great blog can be found at http://thefunstons.com/I encourage you to check it out!